STROKE: The New Hope and the New Help

by Arthur Freese ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1980

At times more frightening than reassuring, this offers a sensational promise--""the world of stroke has recently been turned upside down by the development of a whole new dimension""--and then fails to follow through. What the reader should know is that 1) research is now solidly beyond some simple ways to avoid stroke (principally, reduction of risk factors in diet and blood pressure); and 2) the newer rehabilitation techniques offer hope even for those already disabled. But Freese does not provide an organized or even a complete view of what is currently known. Though there is information on the different kinds of stroke, the warning signals, and some forms of prevention, Freese follows up favorite subjects (e.g., speech problems) to the exclusion of basic information on others (limb paralysis, incontinence). Strokes in children receive frequent and alarming mention, though they are not nearly as common as some aspects of adult stroke which Freese does not discuss. Emotional stress is highlighted (with loss of speech, ""there is invariably severe emotional and psychological trauma to both victim and family""), but little help is offered in dealing with it. Altogether, readers will have difficulty sorting out the information to arrive at answers to the fundamental questions: what will happen? and what should I do? A better resource in every respect is John and Martha Sarno's Stroke: A Guide for Patients and Their Families, updated as of 1979.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1980

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Random House

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1980

Categories: NONFICTION